By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the 250-day imprisonment handed down to two suspects arrested for allegedly supplying ammunition to kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the North Central region and the Federal Capital Territory.
HURIWA described the sentence imposed by the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Dutse-Alhaji, Abuja, as too lenient for an offence it said was linked to the supply of sophisticated weapons to terrorists.
The group called on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), or the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene in the matter and appeal the judgment.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA also criticised the FCT Police Command for announcing the conviction, arguing that the suspects should have been prosecuted under Nigeria’s counter-terrorism laws rather than being convicted only for unlawful possession of ammunition under the Firearms Act.
The two convicts, identified as Yau Sule and his sister, Mariya Sule, were arrested following intelligence-led operations conducted by the police.
According to the FCT Police Command, Yau was arrested on June 2, 2026, while in transit along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.
Police operatives reportedly recovered 81 rounds of 7.62mm live AK-47 ammunition and 100 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition for a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) during the operation.
Further investigations allegedly led to the arrest of Mariya, who the police said was also involved in the ammunition supply network.
The suspects were subsequently arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court 1, Dutse-Alhaji, FCT, in charge number CR/DUT/1132/2026 and convicted for unlawful possession of live ammunition under the Firearms Act.
In separate warrants dated August 24, 2026, the court sentenced both Yau and Mariya to 250 days’ imprisonment without an option of fine, with the sentences to be served at the Suleja Correctional Centre.
But HURIWA said the punishment amounted to a “mere slap on the wrist” given the seriousness of the alleged offence and its potential consequences for national security.
The group questioned why the case was not taken over by the Attorney-General of the Federation or the DSS for prosecution under the country’s counter-terrorism laws.
HURIWA said such prosecution would have provided an opportunity for the suspects to face what it described as more appropriate and lengthy custodial sentences.
The group also faulted the FCT Police Command for celebrating the conviction, describing the development as a failure in the prosecution of a serious security-related case.
HURIWA said: “The sentence to just 250-days of custodial sentencing, is just like letting these collaborators with terrorists to go home after few days of detention and then resume their daredevil transactions with terrorists.”
The group added that the situation represented “a clear case of injustice against the Nigerian people who are at the receiving end of terrorists attacks.”
It therefore urged the AGF or DSS to take immediate steps to review the case and ensure that the convicts face appropriate prosecution and punishment commensurate with the gravity of the alleged offence.
HURIWA insisted that a stronger legal response was necessary to deter individuals involved in the supply of arms and ammunition to terrorists, kidnappers and other violent criminal groups.
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